History of Crown Point, New York (Part 2)FROM:HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY
EDITED BY: H. P. SMITH
PUBLISHED BY D. MASON & CO. PUBLISHERS, SYRACUSE, NY 1885

The crown Point Iron Company. - The second organization under this name was effected in October, 1872, under
"an act to authorize the formation of corporations for manufacturing, mining, mechanical or chemical purposes."
The capital stock was $500,000 in 5,000 shares. The first board of trustees was as follows: - Thomas Dickson, Scranton,
Pa.; George Talbot Olyphant, of the city of New York; John Hammond, of Crown Point, N. Y.; Thomas Hammond, of Crown
Point, N. Y.; and Smith M. Weed, of Plattsburg, N. Y. The 5,000 shares of stock were distributed as follows: -
John Hammond, 1,250; Thomas Hammond, 1,250; George T. Olyphant, 1,200; Thomas Dickson, 1,200; S. M. Weed, 100.

In November, 1872, the stock of the company was increased to $1,200,000 and in September, 1873, to $1,500,000.
The present officers of the company are as follows: L. G. B. Cannon, president; H. M. Olmstead, secretary and treasurer;
A. L. In man, general manager; H. L. Reed, assistant general manager. Following are the names of the superintendents
of the various departments of the company's works: Furnaces, W. S. Green; mines, Thomas Montague; railroad, James
McMann; forge, James W. Stower; machine shop, C. W. Sanders; mines store, Theo. H. Locke; lake store, F. H. Pierce.

The company's forge of eight fires is located at Ironville (formerly Irondale) on the line of their narrow gauge
railroad and midway between the blast furnace (which is on the lake shore) and the mines at Hammondville. The product
of the blast furnaces is known as Bessemer pig iron, and is used to a great extent in Troy, N. Y., and Scranton,
Pa. At the forge the product comprises blooms and billets. The iron turned out by the company is not excelled for
the manufacture of Bessemer steel in this country. The capacity of the two furnaces may be roughly set down at
one hundred and fifteen tons per day of pig iron. The capacity of the mines at present is 75,000 tons annually.
The works and the mines are not now running to their full capacity on account of the general depressed condition
of the iron industry. The old Penfield bed is about exhausted, but prospecting and exploration has been constantly
continued in the vicinity and new deposits discovered, which may be said to be practically inexhaustible.

In addition to its many other benefits to the town it has built a church and school-room at Hammondville at a cost
of about $3,000, which was donated to the employees about the mines.

The railroad forming a connection with the main line along the lake and running to Hammondville was begun in the
fall of 1872. It forms a part of the property of the Iron Company.

The point of land from which the name of the town is derived, exclusive of the ruins of the fort as before explained,
is also owned by this company, who purchased it chiefly for the valuable stone which are quarried there.

As the lumber interest became less profitable in the town and particularly as the land already cleared became more
productive and easier of cultivation, the inhabitants turned their attention more and more to agriculture. A decided
change in this respect is noticeable from about the year 1830 and a little later. The farmers found occupation
winters in hauling lumber or ore which added in a substantial manner to their incomes. Thus, as Mr. Spaulding puts
it, "Vermont lost her Algerines." The town at the present time is, in an agricultural sense, one of the
foremost of the county, and her dairy products, which are considerable, stand well in the markets.

As the lands were cleared and the inhabitants became more prosperous, the rude log houses gave way to the neat
frame cottages and many of these in turn to more pretentious and valuable houses.

The people of the town needed railroad communication, and it is a peculiarity of American communities that when
two or more of them desire railroad connection with each other, or with more distant points, the men and means
are forthcoming for their construction.

The Whitehall and Plattsburg railroad was surveyed in 1861 and work was begun on it in this town on the 20th of
February, 1869. In addition to aid received from the State and the bonds of other towns, Crown Point bonded herself
for $50,000. This action was opposed by many good citizens who felt that the town was still sufficiently burdened
with the then recent war expenses; but a majority favored the enterprise and it was carried through. The section
from Ticonderoga to Port Henry was completed within two years from its commencement. In 1871 it appeared impossible
to extend the road farther without other aid and it was, therefore, leased to the Vermont Central Company. The
lake was bridged at Ticonderoga and a line built from there (Addison Junction) to the Vermont Central's main line.
The New York and Canada railroad was surveyed in 1871, but as its line was to run almost parallel with the Whitehall
and Plattsburg road from Ticonderoga to Port Henry, the former company bought the lease and a consolidation was
effected by an act of the Legislature in 1873.

As the reader of this work has already learned in the pages devoted to the military history of the county, the
town of Crown Point was not deaf to the call of the country in her time of trial. The leading men of the town gave
up their time, their money and their personal service in the field with a degree of patriotism and generous liberality
not excelled in any locality in the surrounding country; and the town officials in various public meetings seconded
the action of the Board of Supervisors in the payment of bounties sufficiently large to induce prompt enlistments
to fill the quotas under the various calls of the' president for volunteers. The widows and children of those who
fell on the battle-field were not forgotten, the town records show that those who remained at home were ready to
share the burdens of the great struggle. Of the 650 voters then in the town, 290 enlisted and sixty-seven laid
down their lives for their country. The reader is referred to the military chapter in preceding pages for details
of the subject.

Lawyers - Crown Point does not appear to have been a fruitful locality for the legal fraternity. The inhabitants
have as a rule been peaceful and little given to the differences and disputes that have to be settled at the bar
of justice; and the attorneys have generally turned their faces towards the county seat, or other more enticing
fields. "'Squire" Chauncey Fenton practiced law here for many years and was justice of the peace. He
has left behind the record of an honorable man. His son, bearing his father's name, is a justice of the peace and
attorney in the village of Ticonderoga. Amos Bigelow and Harvey Tuttle were former lawyers at Crown Point Center
and taught school at an early day. Libeus Haskill is also remembered as an attorney of much native ability. Judge
A. C. Hand, who passed the later portion of his life at Elizabethtown, began his professional career at the Center.

W. F. Hickey is at present the only practicing attorney of the place. He studied with B. B. Bishop, of Moriah,
and was admitted to the bar in May 1879. He followed his profession for about two years in Minerville and then
removed to this place.

Physicians. - Rodoiphus Field, one of the early settlers at Crown Point Centre, was probably the first permanently
located physician in the town. Dr. Cornwell located very early about one-half mile from the Centre on the old east
and west road. Both of these physicians removed from the town. Dr. John R. Goodrich practiced here a few years
and removed to Michigan, and Dr. Henry Hall removed, after some years' practice, to California. They were succeeded
by Dr. H. K. White, who lived at the Center and died there. Dr. Jacob Thrasher mingled the practice of medicine
with "pettifogging" for a number of years.

Dr. George Paige, of Crown Point Center, is a graduate of Middlebury Medical College, Vermont, 1840. He attended
lectures at Hanover, N. H., and Woodstock, Vt. In 1842 he graduated from the Medical department of Yale College.
His practice began and continued seven years at Pittsford, Vt. He then removed to Kentucky, coming to Crown Point
in 1853, where he now enjoys the confidence of the community and has a large practice.

Dr. Joseph Warner studied for his profession at Castleton, Vt., with Dr. M. Goldsmith. He graduated from the Medical
College at that place in 1853, and practiced four years thereafter in Louisiana. He then removed to Bridport, Vt.,
where he followed his profession twenty-two years, coming to Crown Point in 1881. His success here has been gratifying.

Dr. E. R. Eaton attended lectures at the Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, in the winter of 1878-79, and
at the New York Homeopathic College in the winters of 1880-81 and 1881-82, graduating in March of the latter year.
He located in Burlington, Vt., in the summer of 1882 and came to Crown Point in January, 1883.

Dr. Melville Turner is located at Hammondville. His professional studies began at Crown Point and he graduated
from the Albany Medical College in 1873 and began practice at Crown Point in January, 1874. In 1877 he removed
to Lewis, returning in March, 1879, and has been at Hammondville since that time.

Dr. Enoch Kent came from Vermont to Ironville a number of years ago. He refuses statistics of his career for this
work.

Present business, etc., of Crown Point. - At the "Corners," as it is termed, the principal store is kept
by Elmer J. Barker, in the old brick Hammond store, where J. and T. Hammond did business for many years. Mr. Barker,
in company with J. W. Wyman, bought out the Messrs. Hammonds in 1870, and in 1881 Mr. Barker purchased the interest
of his partner.

Lewis & Elkins keep a general store, succeeding Mr. Lewis in the spring of 1884.

H. F. Davis has a clothing, hat and cap and furnishing goods store, which he opened in 1882, where Lewis &
Elkins now are. He removed to his own building in 1884.

F. E. Huestis began the hardware •rade in his present store, which he owns, in 1875. His stock is general hardware
and furniture, the only establishment of the kind in the town.

Fred. H. Ingalls began the drug business in July, 1878. He was preceded by Dr. E. L. Strong, now of Keeseville.
The latter was associated for a time with a Mr. Nichols.

E. M. Johnson conducts a photograph gallery which he has had for about ten years.

S. P. McIntyre carries on wagon-making, undertaking, etc.

Taylor Brothers carry on shoe-making and selling.

In 1818 a Widow Wilcox kept a tavern which stood between the street line and what is now the Hammond chapel and
near to the street. This building was subsequently purchased by Mr. Hammond, removed across the street and rebuilt
into the residence formerly occupied by Thomas Hammond. After the erection of the Crown Point House it was kept
for a time by a Mr. Benedict, who removed from the town. The present proprietor, A. S. Viall, has kept the house
to the eminent satisfaction of the public since 1866.

The Spaulding House was opened in 1884 by McNutt & Kelly. It was originally built by Isaac Spaulding.

A. J. Wyman began a banking business in April, 1881. His establishment is a great convenience to the inhabitants
of the town.

Post- Offices. - The post-office was established at Crown Point early in the century, but the year we have been
unable to learn, as well as the name of the first postmaster. Charles F. Hammond had the office before 1833 and
officiated for many years. He was succeeded by George Brown and he by Chauncey Fenton, who was in the position
about four years. George Brown then filled the office again until 1861, since which date the present postmaster,
W. D. Capron, has occupied the position and grown gray in the service.

Post-offices have been established since the organization of the iron company at Hammondville, where T. H. Locke
officiates and keeps the store; and at Ironville where James N. Stower has the office and is general manager for
the company.

At Crown Point Center the office was established early in the century. Henry Wyman is postmaster and Miss Ingalls
deputy.

Press. - There was no newspaper in the town until the year 1878, when, on the 1st of January, R. W. Billett issued
the first regular number of the Crown Point Budget. Probably no public journal ever made its first appearance under
more unpromising circumstances, if we except the fact that the iron and other interests of the town were then in
a very thriving condition. The first issue of the Budget was an eight-page sheet, but had only two short columns
to the page. Mr. Billett was not even a practical printer; but he had natural aptitude for both the practical and
the literary part of his work, which, coupled with industry and perseverance, enabled him to surmount many formidable
obstacles. His paper was a success and he received the support of the community. In the following March he enlarged
the paper, making it three columns to the page and four pages. In October, 1879, he again felt justified in making
a further enlargement and two columns were added to each page. September 15th, 1880, the name of the paper was
changed to the Essex County Times and Budget, the latter title being dropped in March, 1882. When the name was
first changed another column was added to each page, and on the date last mentioned, still another was added, making
the Times a handsome seven-column sheet. The proprietor has increased his printing material as his business grew,
and now runs two power presses with other excellent facilities. The Times is Republican in politics and has a large
circulation and advertising patronage.

The Hammond Chapel. - This institution is the former residence of Charles
F. Hammond. It was built by him about the year 1837, and for those days and much later was a conspicuously fine
dwelling. Since the death of Mrs. Hammond (1882), General John Hammond and his two surviving sisters presented
the property to the First Congregational Society as a memorial of their mother. The gift was made in July, 1883.
The upper portion of the house has been fitted up as a hail and library rooms, in which is established the chapel
library, which is an outgrowth of a small circulating 1ibrary that was in existence here. Mr. Hammond and others
have circulated many valuable books and the institution promises to be of great benefit to the town.

Forest Dale Cemetery. - The village of Crown Point is provided with a beautiful cemetery, for the benefit of which
the inhabitants are indebted to General John Hammond. It is situated on a picturesque eminence just off from the
main street and is laid out into two hundred lots, among which are winding avenues and paths. Many of the lots
have already been taken and are beautified with handsome memorials of the dead.

The Soldiers' Monument. - This beautiful memorial of the dead soldiers of this town is also a monument to the patriotism
and liberality of Charles F. Hammond. When the war broke out no man came forward more promptly to aid the government
in its peril, than he. All of the original horses for company H of the Fifth New York Cavalry were purchased with
funds advanced by him and he in various other ways testified how deep was his sympathy with his country in her
trial. When the struggle was over he was prompted by the same feelings to erect the beautiful monument to those
who had fallen on the battle field. It is of Westerley granite, thirty-four feet in height, and surmounted by a
statue of a soldier in uniform with his gun at rest. On three of its sides are inscribed the names of the dead
heroes and on the fourth the following inscription : -

"TO THE

MEMORY OF THE BRAVE VOLUNTEERS OF CROWN POINT,

WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES AS A

SACRIFICE FOR THEIR COUNTRY AND HUMANITY IN THE SUPPRESSION OF THE GREAT REBELLION

OF 1861-1866.
THIS MONUMENT IS ERECTED BY THEIR GRATEFUL FELLOW CITIZEN,
C. F. HAMMOND."

Trotting Park. - On the 8th of May, 18-, the "Put's Point Trotting Park Association" was incorporated
with a capital stock of $10,000.

CHURCHES.

Baptist Church, Crown Point. -The first meetings of the Baptists of this town were held in "Slab Hollow"
school-house. As a result of this early work seven or eight were baptized and united with the Ticonderoga society.
The organization of the society here, about 1827, was effected under the missionary labors of Rev. E. Andrews.
The society comprised fifteen members. The first preacher was Ebenezer Mott, who at that time suffered considerable
persecution because of his Baptist proclivities. He staid here but one year. In the year 1831 meetings were held
in the Union church. By the year 1836 thirty-one new members were added to the church. Down to the year 1863 the
number of members received into the society was 266. In 1867, for various causes, the membership had fallen to
thirty-two and the church closed its active work. During its career C. A. Hewitt, David Foot and Ira D. Burwell
were licensed by it to preach. It was chiefly through the persistent efforts and liberality of John Burwell that
the church was long kept in the Essex and Champlain Baptist Association; he went about and offered to give dollar
for dollar on all that might be subscribed for the sustenance of the society. Deacon Wood and Mr. Burwell bought
the rights of the Congregationalists in the "old white meeting-house," until the Baptists owned nearly
all. Six pastors were called to the church: Ebenezer Mott, L. Smith, J. Goodrich, Charles Berry, I. D. Burwell,
Ira P. Kellogg. The report for forty-three years notes fifty-seven baptisms and forty-three added.

The present brick edifice was built largely through the instrumentality of the late Colonel Job L. Howe and the
Messrs. Hammonds. It is sufficiently commodious and pleasantly situated, fronting the village park.

First Congregational Church, Crown Point. - This church was organized on the 10th of September, 1804, by Benjamin
Wooster, of Vermont, missionary. The original number of members was sixteen. Others soon joined, and the number
gradually though slowly increased from year to year. For many years the stated ministrations of the gospel were
not enjoyed except for limited periods of six months or a year, more or less. The church, however, regularly maintained
public worship on the Sabbath, looked well to the discipline of its members, and attended with much regularity
to the ordinances. The first settled pastor was Rev. Samuel C. Bradford, who was ordained June 26th, 1822. His
labors were commenced the year previous. He was regularly dismissed the 14th of June, 1826. On the 8th of October
following Stephen L. Herrick was settled as pastor and continued in that position until 1852. Rev. Ira D. Burwell,
"a Baptist minister," supplied the pulpit for six months. Rev. John Bradshaw was settled as pastor, 1853,
and left in 1866. Willard Child, D.D., acted as supply from September, 1866, until September, 1873. W. H. Utley
supplied the pulpit from September, 1873, for one year and a half; Rev. F. P. Tomkins from 1875 for one year and
eleven months. Rev. I. L. Beman was settled as pastor in 1877 and continued until 1881. Rev. J. W. Cowan succeeded
until 1883, in April of which year Rev. James Deane assumed the pastorate and still continues his labor. The church
has a prosperous Sabbath-school.

The brick church, now occupied by the Congregationalists of Crown Point, was erected in 1833 and dedicated February
13th, 1834. It is a substantial, commodious and good-looking edifice, in excellent condition. The value of the
church property, including parsonage and the Hammond chapel, is $12,000. A prosperous Sabbath-school is connected
with the church. Revivals of widespread beneficent influence were experienced by this society in 1832, 1836, 1841,
1855 and 1878.
Present Trustees - General John Hammond, Z. K. Townsend, E. J. Barker.
Deacons - S. F. Murdock, George Page, W. G. Foote, Z. K. Townsend.

In 1843 the church was built at Ironville and dedicated October 11th of that year. Sarell Wood was the first preacher.

Second congregational Church of crown Point. - As early as 1827 Rev. S. L. Herrick, pastor of the First Congregational
Church of Crown Point, began holding religious services at the place now known as Ironville, in a large hail in
the house of Deacon Allen Penfield. These services were more or less regularly maintained till the spring of 1843,
when it was decided to organize a second Congregational society and erect a house of worship. The first meeting
of the society was held April 15th, 1843. The trustees chosen were Allen Penfleld, John Taylor and Jonathan Train;
and these with Timothy Taft and J. E. Moore were the building committee. The by-laws and act of incorporation were
drawn up by Messrs. Penfield, Taft and Harwood. A. P. Harwood was the first clerk, and he continued in this office
most of the time for nearly a quarter of a century, his last date in the records being April 10th, 1865. Others
who have filled the office are James F. Moore, J. A. Penfield, Hervey Spencer, E. J. Morgan, D. V. N. Harwood,
H. F. Turner, Thomas J. McMurtry, A. D. Cady, 'William Brando and Charles McIntyre.

The trustees, in addition to those already named, have been Timothy Taft, Asa Crain, James F. Moore, A. M. Bunnell,
Hervey Spencer, Albert Taft, Thomas B. Locke, J. A. Penfield, E. J. Morgan, H. F. Turner, Levi R. Dudley, T. J.
McMurtry, and J. N. Stower. Philetus Sawyer, now United States Senator from Wisconsin, was one of the original
members and for two years collector of the society.

The house of worship was erected during the summer of 1843 and dedicated in October of that year. It cost, exclusive
of the basement, $1,600, for which Deacon Allen Penfield became responsible. He also built the basement, designed
for school purposes, as an additional private investment. The edifice was deeded to the society by him, on condition
that preaching be maintained in it. In case the society fails to do this for two years, the property reverts to
his heirs. The entire property is now valued at $2,500. After the edifice was dedicated Rev. S. L. Herrick occupied
the pulpit once in four weeks until the spring of 1844, when Sarell Wood, a licentiate, was engaged as a supply
for one year.

The articles of faith and covenant of the First Congregational Church of Crown Point were adopted as the basis.
The first pastor was the Rev. Chauncey Coe Stevens, who was installed on thee date of the organization and continued
in the pastoral office until February, 1873, when he retired from service on account of the infirmities of age.
Rev. D. W. Cameron began labor November 16th, 1873, and continued until May 1st, 1874. Rev. John T. Marsh began
November 1st, 1874, and closed his labors February, 1877. The pastorate of Rev. A. T. Clarke began October, 1877;
installation August, 1878; pastoral relations dissolved September 22d, 1884. Rev. W. C. Sexton, the present pastor,
began labor January 4th, 1885.

The first deacons were Allen Penfleld and James F. More. The others have been Timothy Taft, Levi R. Dudley, Thomas
J. McMurtry and John W. Towner; the latter three are still in the office.

The first Sunday-school was organized in 1830, and prior to the erection of the church edifice was held either
in the school-house or in Deacon Penfield's hall. John Taylor was the first superintendent. The others have been
A. P. Harwood, Hervey Spencer, E. J. Morgan, A. J. McMurtry, T. J. McMurtry, J. W. Towner, and Levi R. Dudley,
the present incumbent.

The most important revival in the history of the church occurred in 1877, under the labors of J. D. Foote, an evangelist.
Thirty-four persons, chiefly the fruits of this revival, were received to membership December 2d, 1877, by Rev.
A. T. Clarke. The next largest accession was that of ten persons, January 2d, 1881. The present membership is fifty-five.

The benevolent contributions have been unusually large for a rural church of its size. Not far from $8,000 have
been distributed in gifts to the various benevolent causes, making an average of about $210 per annum, not including
one personal gift of $1,000. Besides, the church has very generously responded once or twice for the relief of
western sufferers.

Church of Christ, Hammondville. - In 1875 and 1876 Rev. J. T. Marsh, acting pastor of the Congregational Church
at Ironville, preached occasionally to the Protestant population of Hammondville. In October, 1877, Rev. A. T.
Clarke was called to the pastorate of the Congregational Church at Ironville and preached in a school-house in
Hammondville once in two weeks for nearly a year. In the summer of 1878 the Crown Point Iron Company erected an
elegant house of worship with commodious rooms for a school beneath it. This house was dedicated on Sunday, September
29th, 1878, at which time the following statement by the Iron Company, prepared by A. L. Inman, general manager,
was read: - "The company, having a due regard for the welfare of its employees, at its annual meeting in May
last, determined on the erection of a building at its mines, for the purpose of a church and school building, the
necessities of which have long been apparent, and to that end have expended in the construction and furnishing
of the house we now occupy a little less than $3,ooo. The lower room has a seating capacity for 135 scholars, and
is to be used as a school-room. The upper room, with seating capacity for 225 persons, to be used as a union house
of worship for the religious services of all denominations. And the company does now give it to its employees to
be used for such purposes only, with the hope and belief that it will prove a source of profit to both old and
young."

After the dedication of the house of worship religious services were held every Sabbath afternoon by the pastor
at Ironville, and a church organization was soon talked of, to be consummated on a libetal evangelical basis. A
constitution was drawn up by Rev. A. T. Clarke, and printed, bearing date 1878, but for various reasons no public
action was taken upon it until Saturday evening, March 29th, 1879, when it was adopted, and officers were elected
as follows: Deacons, William Northey, and William S. Yole; clerk, William S. Rowan; treasurer, Josephy Stone; trustees,
the foregoing, with A. McDonald, esq., superintendent of.Iron Company.

The first communion season was observed on Sunday afternoon, April 13th, 1879, when ten persons assented to the
confession of faith and covenant, thus completing the organization. These ten persons were William Northey, William
S. Yole, William S. Rowan, John Kest, Martha Bennett, Etta J. Parkhurst, Mary Scafe, Cordelia Stone, Elizabeth
E. Stone, Josephine U. Stone.

Rev. A. T. Clarke continued the first acting pastor of the church until September 22d, 1884. The present acting
pastor, Rev. W. C. Sexton, began labor January 4th, 1885.

The first Sunday-school was organized in June, 1875, and held in a schoolhouse until the church edifice was dedicated.
William Northey was the first superintendent. The others who have held the office are Mrs. Alexander Kee, James
Cruikshank, William Trenery and Rev. W. C. Sexton, the present incumbent. Owing to removals and other causes the
church membership has remained small. Nine members were received May 4th, 1884, as the result of revival seryices
conducted by Rev. A. T. Clarke, and the largest accession at any one time since the date of organization.

The membership at present is twelve. Alfred Knowlton is deacon, and the present trustees are Theodore Locke, Alexander
Kee and Thomas Montague, superintendent of Iron Company.

A large church edifice was erected and dedicated January 20th, 1830, on the site of the present "white meeting-house,"
in the central part of the town, and was occupied as a union church by the different sects then desiring to hold
services there, embracing Congregationalists, Baptists, Methodists and Universalists. It gave way in the year 1882
to the present edifice, which is now occupied by the Wesleyan Methodists, who are ministered to by the Rev. W.
A. Hathaway.

Lutherans. - The Swedish Lutherans of Hammondville have formed the organization of a church society recently and
have occasional services by a non-resident pastor.

Roman Catholic. - There has been a Roman Catholic Church organization here more than twenty years, but the present
church was erected in 1876. Rev. Father Mullin was the last priest who officiated in the church. He left the church
in 1884 and services are not now held. Rev. Father Butler, from Ticonderoga was the first pastor, and comes to
the church for occasional services.

Schools.- We have heretofore alluded to the first school taught in this town, in 1804 or 1805, by the wife of Elisha
Rhoades, in the building which was a combined store, dwelling and school-house. But it was a beginning, and others
soon followed in different parts of the town. It has never been a characteristic of American pioneers to let their
children fold their hands and grow up in ignorance. Better that they should tramp miles through forests, over rough
roads, or no roads at all, in the most inclement weather (they were needed at home in the planting and the harvest),
and sit the day through upon the hardest of seats, with no support for their backs, and pore over a very limited
selection of school books; and the foundation for many an excellent education and for many a strong and enlightened
character has been laid under just such circumstances as these.

John Catlin came across the lake from Vermont and taught school here before 1818, and Harvey Tuttle taught from
1818 to 1820. Foster Breed, who came to town with his father in 1815, attended the school. The next teacher he
remembers was a lady, who subsequently became his wife (now deceased), Miss Sarah Washburn. She was from Middlebury,
and taught in a building that stood where Elmer J. Barker's house is. As settlers located in different parts of
the town, districts were divided and schools rapidly multiplied.

The present Union Free School was established at Crown Point in 1878. It embraces three schools in the building
at the village and one at the lake, and has been very successful from the first, nearly all the districts in the
town (eighteen, besides the four mentioned) being represented among its pupils. L. B. Carlisle was the first principal
and was succeeded in 1880 by Professor Thomas R. Kneil. He was educated at the Wesleyan University, Middletown,
Conn., whence he graduated in 1875. He was born in Westfield, Mass., in 1851, and is a young man of excellent native
ability. Under him as teachers are Miss Addie M. Bunnell, intermediate; Miss Clara A. Stanton, first primary; Miss
Frank M. Locke, second primary (lake). The average attendance is about one hundred and seventy. The school passed
under the control of the Regents of the University in 1881 and graduated its first class in 1883.

Crown Point Center. - The settlement at this point, about three miles up the creek from the lake, was made a little
earlier than at what was called Hammond's Corners. The road now from the latter hamlet to the Center passes through
Factoryville, which is only another section of the well-settled district beginning at the lake and extending westward
- as though a populous village away up the creek had been caught by one of the floods for which that stream is
not unknown and carried down stream, portions of it being left along on the banks.

There has been a post-office here and at the "Lower Hollow," as it is locally called, since early in
the century. The office was located at the" Upper Hollow" permanently some twenty-five years ago, while
at the Lower Hollow there was continual .strife in early years to secure its location permanently at Hammond's
Corners; and it vibrated from one of these points to the other. "'Squire" George Bunn kept a store on
the site of the present brick store at the Center as early as 1825, and "'Squire" Chauncey Fenton was
located at "The Corners." As the post-office was changed from one locality to the other it invariably
also passed from the control of one of these worthy gentlemen to the other, the name of the office remaining the
same - Crown Point. The office at the Center is now in charge of Miss Ingalls, as deputy, under Henry E. Wyman.
Mr. Wyman succeeded A. S. Palmer.,

The early settlements in "Buck Hollow" and vicinity have already been sufficiently noted. A grist-mill
at the Hollow that was operated for many years fell into ruins in 1884, and there is nothing there indicating business
except a small store kept by A. Bailey. There was a saw-mill there in early days, and another at the Upper Hollow.
These mills were a part of the great lumber business that was extensively carried on in the town in early years.

William Fuller is the oldest merchant at Crown Point Center. His father was Cornelius Fuller, who located near
the old "red store" in 1818. He removed, however, but came back in 1824 to what was known as the Cummings
farm. He died in the the town in 1829. William Fuller was employed as clerk for A. B. Chipman, and in 1851 took
the position of agent in the Union store, which was operated by the New England Protective Union, a co-operative
organization. He continued in that capacity for twenty-one years. In 1873 he bought the store and has since that
time continued the business on his own account. His store burned in 1875, when he erected his present substantial
brick building.

A. G. De Poutee has a general store, where he began trade in 1871 with Henry E. Wyman as a partner, whose interest
he subsequently purchased. He was preceded by J. T. Hill.

The firm of Trimble & Buck carry on a general store in a building which was erected in 1866 by P. S. Russell.
The first firm was Russell & Trimble; then Russell, Trimble & Co., and Trimble & Buck since 1869. The
firm is composed of James K. Trimble, who is a son of Chillion A. Trimble, one of the early settlers already mentioned,
who located on the Point, and Rawson C. Buck.

The wagon factory here is owned by Chauncey Dudley, and Samuel Crawford runs the business.

There has been a hotel here since an early day. Elijah Grosvenor had an. early tavern where Moses De Poutee now
lives. M. Willcox had the first tavern on the site of the present hotel. The house, as it now stands, is the result
of several changes of structure, and numerous proprietors have tried its fortunes. Samuel Russell, Nathan Ingalls,
Henry McNutt and Alexander Freeman were among the proprietors; it is now kept by John Donnelly. Samuel Russell
was one of the early settlers.

Alexander Turner has kept the harness shop since 1884, in a building that was put up for the post-office on one
of the occasions when the Hammond's Corners people were temporarily deprived of it. John Little had a harness shop
here formerly.

Rufus Fassett carried on the tinsmith business here for fifteen years. It is now, and for a year past, in connection
with hardware, in the hands of John Donnelly.

The grist-mill is operated by Henry E. Wyman.

A. M. Buckman manufactures butter tubs, etc., on the site of the old sawmill. This mill was reconstructed from
the old forge that was built here many years ago.

Moses De Poutee keeps a grocery.

The old woolen factory at the Upper Hollow was built about 1840 by William Treadway. It has been operated for thirty
years by William Clure.

John M. Locke, one of the early settlers in the neighborhood of the White Meeting House, on the homestead now occupied
by his son, formerly drove a stage through this region. Wm. Fuller, the merchant, taught a school in that neighborhood
in 1833.

The road as it now runs through the valley was not opened until about 1834. Previous to that time the hill road
was used. In early days roads were opened either over or along the sides of hills, to avoid the mud that was sure
to be found in spring and fall in the valleys, at a period when teams were not so numerous as now.

The first church in the White Meeting House neighborhood was the one that gave the name to the locality, derived
from its own color; it was not every church that could in those days boast a coat of paint of any color. It was
located near the center of the town and there were good reasons for believing that a hamlet or village might be
built up there. The town meeting was held in the old church the first year after it was built. Mr. Fuller remembers
that it was necessary to place a guard about the pulpit to prevent the enthusiastic electors from breaking it down.
The present church was built on the site of the old one in 1882.

Factoryville. - This is a mere hamlet midway between Crown Point and Crown Point Center. A post-office is maintained
by private effort.

The Crown Point Manufacturing Works are located here and now operated by James E. Pond. G. W. Foote is in charge
of the store. This manufacturing establishment was staited for the production of sash, doors, blinds and pails,
by Flint Brothers, some twenty-five years ago. They were succeeded by C. P. Fobes, who was associated with the
Hammonds. Mr. Fobes bought out his partners' interest and formed the C. P. Fobes Manufacturing Company. This continued
to 1881 when the business took its present name, with C. L. Hammond as proprietor About two years later it passed
to the present ownership.

The Mason Wheel Company began business here in 1880, manufacturing patent wagon wheels; but the business was abandoned
in about a year.

Two saw-mills are operated here by Mr. Pond, before mentioned.

Gunnison's - There are two ferries from Crown Point across the lake, one of which is south of the mouth of Putnam's
creek and the other north of it. The one first mentioned is now operated by Gunnison & Brooks and the other
by Wolcott & Rogers, and by Timothy Huestis from this side. A ferry called Wilkinson's ferry was run from Long
Point.

George Gunnison some fifteen years ago erected the large hotel that stands near his wharf on the lake shore. Its
proximity to the railroad and the expectation that it could be filled with summer guests were the reasons for its
erection; but the hopes of patronage were not realized and the handsome house is used only as a sort of boarding-house.

Following are the names that appear on the assessors' roll of the town for the year 1835, which is worthy of preservation
here as indicating the settlers who had become property owners at that time. The real estate valuation had then
reached $91,361; personal property, $4,800. The spelling of some of the names is undoubtedly incorrect:-

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